Hydraulically operated well pipe extracting apparatus



Feb. 8, 1966 J. P. HARVEY ETAL 3,233,868

HYDRAULICALLY OPERATED WELL PIPE EXTRACTING APPARATUS Filed May 22, 1965 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTY.

BY HUWAHD PBERENDS.

Feb. 8, 1966 J. P. HARVEY ET AL 3,233,868

HYDRAULICALLY OPERATED WELL PIPE EXTRACTING APPARATUS Filed May 22, 1963 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR 1 JDHN P. HARVEY,

BY EDWARD E Bamm/5.

Feb. 8, 1966 J, P, HARVEY ET AL 3,233,868

HYDRAULICALLY OPERATED WELL PIPE EXTRACTING APPARATUS Filed May 22, 1965 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 ETE-7- lNVEN-TORS.'

JUHN P. HARVEY BY EDWARD Z7 BERENDS.

United States Patent Oice 3,233,868 Patented Feb. 8, 1966 3,233,868 HYDRAULICALLY OPERATED WELL PIPE EXTRACTING APPARATUS John P. Harvey, Grand Haven, and Howard I. Berends,

Fruitport, Mich., assignors to Harvey Machine, Inc.,

Grand Haven, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Filed May 22, 1963, Ser. No. 282,250 Claims. (Cl. 2541-31) The invention relates to pipe extracting or pipe pulling apparatus and more especially to portable apparatus of a character particularly usable for extracting Ior pulling well pipe from the ground.

It has been conventional practice in obtaining a shallow well water supply to drive a well pipe equipped with a perforated cone-shaped well point into the ground a sufiicient distance to dispose the well point below the surrface Water level whereby surface water enters the perforations in the well point, the pipe being equipped with a suitable pump whereby an inexpensive supply of surface water may be had.

After periods of use, particularly where the well point is driven into a sandy region, the sand or earth particles enter the perforations and eventually till the well point or clog the perforations to an extent rendering the well ineffective as a water supply.

It therefore becomes necessary to periodically extract or pull the Well pipe and the well 4point from the ground to clean or purge the well point of sand or particles. Heretofore mechanically operable devices or jacks have been employed for extracting or pulling well pipe but such devices have not been satisfactory by reason of the difficulties in mechanically providing sufficient force multiplication to effectively extract or pull a Well pipe, and such devices as have been devised for the purpose have been cumbersome and expensive.

The present invention embraces the provision of hydraulically operated apparatus of portable character for effectively and emciently extracting or pulling well pipe from the ground. Another object of the invention resides in the combination of a portable hydraulically operable well pipe extracting apparatus associated with a manually `operable. hydraulic pump adapted to provide a comparatively high hydraulic force operable to extract or pull well pipe from the ground irrespective of the character of soil strata in which the well pipe is embedded.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a well pipe extracting apparatus which is quickly adjustable to establish gripping -engagement with various sizes of well pipe and which is vadapted to be moved through successive pipe extracting strokes or -cycles simply through the control of the hydraulic pressure producing means or pumping apparatus and a vent valve arrangement to suc* cessively introduce fluid under pressure into the hydraulic actuated pipe extracting component to an extracting stroke and purging the component of fluid preparatory to a succeeding pipe extracting operation.

Another object of the invention resides in a well pipe extracting apparatus wherein the pipe grippers or slips are individually adjustable to various positions in order to accommodate various sizes of well pipe and which are guided by inclined or convergingly arranged surfaces to automatically grip the pipe to assure an extracting stroke without slippage, the grip/pers being automatically released from gripping engagement with a Well pipe upon a retracting stroke of the apparatus.

Further obje-cts and advantages are within the scope of this invention such as relate to the arrangement, operation and function of the related elements of the structure, to various details of construction and to combinations of parts, elements per se, and to economies of manufacture and numerous other features as will be apparent from a consideration of the specification and drawing of a form of the invention, which may be preferred, in which:

FIGURE 1 is an elevational view of the Well pipe engaging and extracting apparatus in combination with a hydraulic pressure producing means;

FIGURE 2 4is a top plan view of the pipe extracting in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is an elevational view of the head portiony of the pipe extracting apparatus particularly illustrating the gripping devices in engagement with a well pipe;

FGURE 4 is a top plan view of the head structure of the pipe extracting apparatus;

FGURE 5 is a vertical sectional View through the pipe extracting apparatus. the view being taken substantially on the line 5 5 of FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 6 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially on the line 6 6 of FIGURE 6;

FlGURE 7 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially on the line 7-7 of FIGURE 5;

FGURE S is a vertical sectional view through a portion of the hydraulic pump or pressure producing means;

FGURE 9 is an end View of the construction shown in FEGURE 7, certain portions being broken away for purposes of illustration, and v FIGURE l0 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially on the line 11i-10 of FGURE 8.

While the apparatus of the invention has particular utility for extracting well pipe from the ground or earth, it is to be understood that the apparatus may be utilized for extracting embedded anchor rods or the like.

Referring to the drawings in detail and initially to FiG- URES 1 and 2, there is illustrated a pipe extracting unit or lifting apparatus 10 and a pump apparatus or cornponent 12 and associated fluid reservoir for developing hydraulic pressure for actuating the pipe extracting cornponent lil.

With reference additionally to FIGURES 3 through 7 the well pipe extracting or pulling apparatus 1t) is inclusive of a base 4or a base plate 14 which may be of generally rectangular shape as shown in FIGURE 2.

The base plate 14 may be disposed directly upon the ground surface adjacent the well pipe to be extracted or, if desired, may be mounted on planking 16 to `distribute the thrust developed during pipe extracting operations over a substantial surface area. The base plate 14 is fashioned with a central opening 18 preferably of square configuration to accommodate the well pipe which is to be extracted. The base 14 is preferably formed of cast metals such as cast iron and is fashioned with parallel reinforcing ribs or webs 20. v

The base 14 is contigurated with spaced rectangularly-shaped boss portions 22, each formed with a flat or planar upper surface 24. Each planar surface 24 provides a support for a plate 26, each plate being secured to the adjacent surface 24 by a plurality of 4screws 28. Each `plate is fashioned with a central circular opening into which is snugly fitted a cylinder 30, each cylinder being Welded to the adjacent plate as indicated at 31. The lower end region of each cyplinder 30 extends into and is snugly fitted into a bore 32 formed in the base 14.

Welded to the upper end of each of the cylinders 3) is an annular member or cylinder head 34. Snugly fitted within each head 34 but slidable relative thereto is an epesses inner sleeve or piston 36, each piston or sleeve 36 being provided with a piston head 38 at its upper end.

Each sleeve 36 and head 33 forms a piston construction which is adapted for reciprocation in the adjacent cylinder 3f). The cylinder 34 is provided with circular recesses 4u and 42, the recess 40 accommodating a sealing ring preferably in the form of an O ring 41 of conventional construction forming a gland to prevent leakage of fluid along the exterior surface of the piston 36.

The upper annular recess 42 in each member accommodates a seal guard 44 of conventional construction. Each piston head 38 is Welded to the upper end region of the adjacent piston or sleeve 36 as shown at 46. Welded or otherwise secured to the lower surface of each of the heads or members 38 is a hook member 4S. Extending across the bore 32 in the base 14 and beneath each cylinder 3f) is transversely extending pin or anchor member Sti. Disposed interiorly of each of the pistons 36 is a contractile coil spring 52, the lower end having a hook portion 53 which is hooked over the pin 56, the upper portion of each spring being provided with a hook portion 55 which engages the member or hook 48 secured to the piston head 38, as particularly shown in FiGURE 5.

The contractile springs 52 normally urge the pistons 36 t0 their lowermost positions viz. that position where the piston 36 is substantially fully telescoped into the outer sleeve or cylinder 39.

Snugly fitted on the lower region of the piston 36 is an annulus or collar S8 welded to the exterior surface of the sleve 36 as indicated at 60. The exterior surface of the collar S is snugly yet slidably received within the sleeve 30, the collar 58 forming a stop means which, When engaged with the head 34, limits the uppermost movement of the piston.

The base 14 is formed or provided with passage means for conveying liuid into the cylinders 30 for elevating the pistons 36. As shown particularly in FIGURES 6 and 7, the base 14 is fashioned with a boss portion 64 provided with a passage or channel 66, the entrance region of which is threaded to receive a fitting 63 to which is secured a fitting 70 forming a component of a hose coupling construction.

The fitting 70 is adapted to receive a high pressure coupling member 72 of conventional construction which is attached to one end of a flexible hose or tube '74 for conducting or conveying fluid into and away from the cylinders 30. These base 14 is provided with passages 76 establishing communication between the passage 66 and each of the cylinders 30 as shown in FIGURE 7.

Mounted upon the piston Vheads or members 3S is a pipe extracting head 80 which is adapted to carry or support the slips or pipe gripping members arranged to be engaged with a well pipe 82 which is to be pulled or extracted from the earth. A perforated well point 83 is shown at the lower end of the well pipe 82.

The head 80 is of generally U-shaped configuration formed with transversely extending portions 84 secured to the piston heads 3S. Each of the portions 84 is bored to accommodate a securing bolt or threaded member 86 engaging in a threaded bore formed in the adjacent piston head 38, as particularly shown in FIGURE 5.

The head S0 is fashioned with transversely spaced upwardly extending parallel web portions 88, the web portions being fashioned with centrally disposed trapezoidal shaped openings 90 and an additional pair of openings 92, as shown in FIGURES 1 and 5. The openings 90 and 92 facilitate the manipulation of pipe gripper members or slips which may be adjusted to positions to accommodate various sizes of well pipe.

Supported on each of the web portions 88 of the extractor head 80 are pairs of pipe gripper guide plates or blocks 94 and 95. The pairs of blocks 94 and 95 are secured to the webs by means of threaded members or screws 96, the blocks being fitted on parallel surfaces formedon boss portions 98, shown in FIGURE 6. The

,pairs of blocks 94 are provided with surfaces 100 and the pairs of blocks 95 are provided with surfaces 102. The pairs of surfaces and 102 are arranged in downwardly converging relation as particularly shown in FIG- URES 1, 3 and 5.

The extractor head S0 is adapted to support pipe gripping members or siips 106, each gripper member or slip being fashioned with a body 19S provided with projecting shaft portions or trunnions 11), particularly shown in FGURE 4. The body portions 16S of the gripper members 166 are of a width to fit between the pairs of guide plates or blocks 94 and 95.

The trunnions 11u are adapted to engage the convergingly arranged surfaces 160 and 162 of the pairs of blocks 94 and 95 as shown in FIGURE 3 so that upon upward movement of the head S0, the converging surfaces 100 and 162, in engagement with the trunnions 110, cause the gripper members to engage the well pipe 82 to be pulled or extracted. If desired, each gripper member 166 may be fashioned with an opening and a rod or shaft pressed into the opening to provide the trunnions.

As particularly shown in FIGURES 3 through 6, each gripper member is fashioned with three well pipe engaging regions 114, 116 and 118, each gripper region being spaced with respect to the axis of its trunnion to adapt the gripper to well pipe of different sizes. Each of the pipe gripping surfaces or regions 114, 116 and 11S is fashioned with a series of gripper teeth of a configuration to engage the well pipe whereby upward movement of the head Si) causes the teeth of the gripper members to bite into the well pipe surface so as to securely grip the same.

The convergingly arranged surfaces of the pairs of blocks 94 and 95 bias the gripper members toward the Well pipe to assure gripping engagement with the Well pipe. As particularly shown in FIGURE 5, the pairs of gripper surfaces are of proper dimensions so that when the surfaces of a particular pair, such as the surfaces arranged in opposed relation, they are in position to engage a well pipe of the particular size for which the grippers have been adjusted.

If a smaller well pipe is to be extracted or pulled, the gripper members 106 are manually rotated to bring the gripper surfaces 114 into opposed relation to engage the well pipe. If a larger well pipe is to be extracted, the gripper members 106 are rotated to bring the gripper surfaces 118 into opposed relation to engage a well pipe.

It should be noted that the sets of gnipper teeth or surfaces formed on lthe gripper members are of curved or arcuate shape, as shown in FIGURES 4 and 6 and are of a curvature to fit the particular size of pipe to be ex racted. The arcuately shaped teeth of the pairs of gripper surfaces establish an effective gripping engagement with the circular cylindrical exterior surface of a Well pipe. The pairs of gripper guide blocks 94 and 95 are hardened to provide long wearing surfaces for engagement with the trunnions 110.

The fiuid reservoir or tank and pumping unit or means for developing fluid pressure for elevating the pistons 36 and the head Sii to perform extracting or pulling strokes on a well pipe 82 is illustrated in FIGURES l, 2 and 8 through 10.

The reservoir and pumping unit 12 is inclusive of a housing 124, preferably formed of cast metal fashioned with a reservo-ir, tank or chamber 126. The housing is rovided at its end with projecting lugs 128 having openings to accommodate bolts 130 for securing the housing to mounting blocks 132 which may besccured to a member or plank 134 arranged to be supported upon the ground or earthV surface.

It is to be understood that the housing 124 may be used by placing the saine on the ground surface without the use of the plank 134 or the mounting blocks 1312. 'libe upper wafll 136 of the housing 124 is fashioned with a boss portion 13S provided with a filler opening threaded to receive a filler cap to facilitate filling the tank 126 75 with fluid such as oil or other suitable liquid.

The housing 124 is provided adjacent one end with an integral upwardly extending portion 142 and a handle portion 144 is integrally joined to the portion 142 and to the upper wall 136 of the housing 124 as shown in FIGURE 1. The housing 124 is preferably formed of cast aluminum to reduce the weight and enhance the portability or handling of the housing and its associated components.

As particularly shown in FIGURES 8 and l0, the upward-ly extending portion 142 is provided with vertically disposed aligned openings in lportions 146 and 148 of the projection 142, portions 146 and 148 being spaced vertically by a circular recess 150 cored or otherwise formed in the portion 142.

A pump cylinder or sleeve 152 is snugly fitted or pressed into the aligned openings in the portions 146 and 148, the upper end region of the cylinder being fashioned with a liange portion 154 which engages the upper suriace of the projection 142 to define the position of the cylinder 152 with respect to the housing 124.

It will be noted from FIGURE 8 that the cylinder extends a substantial distance into the reservoir or chamber 126 so that its lower end is normally immersed in the uid 158 in the reservoir. The bottom wall 160 of the housing 124 is fashioned with a boss portion 161 provided with an opening 162 to facilitate the machining or formation of the aligned openings in the portions 146 and 14S, fthe opening 152 being closed by a Welch plug 164 engaging a sealing ring 165 disposed in a counterbore 1&6 formed in the boss portion 161.

The wall regions of the cylinder 152 adjacent the portions 145 and 148 are fashioned with annular recesses accommodating sealing rings 168 and 170 preferably of the conventional O ring type. The sealing rings 158 and 17) prevent leakage of fluid along the exterior surface of the cylinder 152. Formed in the projection 142 is a duct or passage 174 which is in communication with the annular chamber 150. The projection 142 is formed with a threaded opening to receive a thread-ed lit-ting or street L 17d which receives a fitting 178 secured to an end of the flexible hose '74 shown in FIGURES 1 and 2.

Reciprocably or slidably disposed within the cylinder 152 is a pump piston or plunger 180. Integraliy formed on the projection 142 are spaced lugs 182 provided with aligned openings to accommodate a pivot pin or stub shaft 134. Disposed between the lugs 182 is a link 186 having an opening through which extends the pin 184 to articularly or pivotally join the link 1815 to the lugs 132. A pump operating handle member lf is disposed lengthwise of and above the housing 124 as shown in FGURES 1, 2 and 8. The distal end region of the handle member 18S is fashioned with a grip portion 190, the opposite end of the handle member 183 being formed with furoations 192.

The furcations 192 straddle the upper port-ion of the link 185, a pivot pin or stub shaft 194 extending through aligned openings in the link 1% and the turc-ations 192 for pivotally or articulately connecting the handle member 183 with the link 186. The upper end of the piston or plunger 130 extends into the bight portion of the handle member between the furcations 192. The plunger 180 and the urcations 192 are provided with aligned openings to receive a pivot pin or stub shaft 196 pivotally connecting the plunger with the handle member.

The upper portion of the flange 154 on the cylinder 152 is fashioned with a circular recess accommodating an annular seal guard 198 of conventional construction.

A second annular recess bel-ow the seal guard 198 accommodates a sealing ring 20G such as a conventional O ring to provide a seal between the pump plunger 181B and the cylinder 152. The lower end region of the pump cylinder 152 is equipped with a check valve or one-way valve construction to admit fluid into the cylinder from a reservoir or chamber 126 upon each upward stroke of the piston or plunger 180.

' With particular reference to FIGURE 8, a cylindrically shaped member or valve cage 264 is snugly li-tted into the interior o-f the cylinder 152 and is secured in place by a transversely extending pin 266 extending through registering openings formed in the member 204 and the cylinder 152. The member 204 is fashioned with a fluid inlet passage 298 which is in communication with a counterbore 210 in the member, a ball check valve 212 being disposed in the counterbore and adapted to seat against a ledge or shoulder formed at the junction of the counterbore 21? with the Wall defining the inlet passage 20S.

The pin 2115, extending across the counterbore 211), prevents dislodgement of the check valve 212. It will be obvious that the check ball will move upward-ly to admit iluid from the reservoir 126 through the passage 20S and counter-bore 210 but will prevent reverse liow of iiuid from the cylinder into the reservoir. The plunger or piston 180 is provided at its lower end with a one-way valve construction or check valve arrangement. The piston 180 is formed with a longitudinal bore 216 which extends only partially through the plunger.

The piston or plunger 181) is formed with a peripheral recess 218 adjacent the closed end of the bore 216 and transverse passageways 22@ formed in the piston 181) establish communication between the peripheral recess 218 and the bore 216. The lower end region of the plunger or piston 13? is provided with a counterbore into which is snugly itted a cylindrically shaped member or valve cage 222 formed at its lower end with an inlet passage 22d which opens into or is in communication with a counterbore 226 which opens into the bore 216.

Disposed within the counterbore 226 is a ball check valve 228 which seats against the shoulder formed at the junction of the counterbore 226 with the inlet passage 224 in the cage 222. A transversely extending pin 230 extends through registering openings formed in the piston and the valve cage 222 to secure the valve cage in assembled relation with the piston and prevent dislodgement of the ball check Valve 228. The region of the piston 1%@ adjacent the valve cage 222 is provided With a peripheral recess accommodating a sealing means in the form of a conventional O ring 232.

The valve cage 204, fitted into the lower end of the cylinder 152, is fashioned with a peripheral recess accommodating a sealing means in the form of an O ring 236. The sealing means 232 prevents seepage of fluid along the plunger 130 and the sealing ring 236 prevents seepage of luid between the valve cage 264. and the cylinder 152.

As shown in FlGURES 8 and lt), the Wall of the cylinder 152 adjacent the annular chamber 15) is formed with a vertically elongated slot or passage 238 to facilitate flow of luid from the peripheral recess 21E in the plunger 186 into the annular chamber 15@ and through the passage 174 and fitting 176.

The portion 142 of the housing 124 is provided with a channel arrangement and manually operable valve means for faciiitating return flow of iiuid from the cylinders 3i) into the reservoir 126 after each well pipe extracting or pulling stroke or cycle has been completed. Referring particularly to FIGURES 8 and 9, the portion 142 of the housing 124 is provided with a threaded opening 240 which accommodates a threaded member 242, the inner end of member 242 being provided with a head portion 244.

A passage 248 adjacent the head 244 of lesser diameter than that of the threaded member 242 opens -into the annular chamber 150, as shown in FGURE 8. A passage 259 is in communication with the threaded bore 240 and the reservoir chamber 126, The head portion 244 of the valve member 242 is adapted to seat against the shoulder or ledge formed at the juncture of the passage 248 with the threaded bore 24E@ when the threaded member 242 is drawn inwardly by rotation in a clockwise 7 direction, the valve 242 being illustrated in closed position in FGURE 8.

The valve member 242 is provided with a pressure relief means or valve which automatically establishes a bypass in event that an operator actuates the liuid pump to an extent to bring the abutment collars 58 on the pistons 36 in the cylinders 3G into engagement with the heads 34 at the upper ends of the cylinders Sil. The head 244 of the valve member 242 is provided with a relief port 246. The valve member 242 is formed with a bore 254i which extends approximately midway through the member 242, a threaded bore 256 of lesser diameter than the bore 25) forming an extension of the bore 250, as shown in FIG- URE S.

Disposed in the threaded bore 256 is a check ball or check valve member 25d which is engaged by an expansive coil spring 261i, the spring abutting against an adjustable abutment or plug 262 which is threaded into the small bore 256. The spring 261) normally urges the check valve member or ball 25S toward closed position, blocking the port or passage 246 formed in the end head 244 of the valve member 242. When excessive pressure is built up in the hydraulic system sufcient to overcome the pressure of the spring 269, the valve 253 is automatically moved away from its seat.

Transverse passages 264 are provided in the wall of the valve member 242 to establish communication between the threaded bore 256 and the bypass channel 251i whereby fluid flowing past the check ball 25S is returned to the reservoir chamber 126.

During normal pumping operations, the tluid pressure does not etiect an opening of the check ball 25S so that uid being pumped by movement of, the piston 159 is normally delivered into the cylinders Sli. The pressure at which the check ball 253 is to be dislodged may be regulated by adjusting the position of the threaded abutment or plug 262 carried by the manually operable valve member 242. The valve member 242 is provided with a handle exteriorly of the housing 121i in the form of a transversely extending pin 243 which facilitates manual rotation of the valve member 242 to open and close the passage 24@ for purposes as hereinafter explained.

The well pipe engaging and extracting unit 1t) constructed for use with average size well pipe is about twenty inches in height, and the housing 124 of the reservoir and pump construction is about twelve inches in length. Thus the units are of comparatively light weight and may be handled by a single operator. They are portable and may be quickly and readily disposed in position to extract a well pipe from the ground.

In the use of the apparatus of the invention, an operator positions the base 14 and the head 30 astraddle the pipe with the pipe extending through the opening 1S in the base and through the opening in the head between the portions 84, with the base 14 preferably mounted on planking 16.

The operator then manually rotates the gripping devices or slips 106 to bring the proper size toothed regions into vertical position to engage the well pipe 82. In the arrangement shown in FIGURES 3, 4 and 5 the gripping surfaces 116 of the gripping devices 106 in position to engage and grip the well pipe 82.

The operator adjusts the gripping devices 106 to bring the trunnions 111i thereof into engagement with the convergingly arranged surfaces 100 and 102 of the pairs of guide blocks 94 and 95 to the position shown in FIG- URE 3 whereby upward thrust or movement of the head 80, through the influence of the converging surfaces 11MB and 102 cause the teeth of the regions 116 to securely bite into and grip the well pipe S2. manipulates the handle 188 of the pump construction by repeated swinging movements about the pin 194 to reciprocate the piston or plunger 1g@ in the cylinder 152 of the pump disposed in the housing 124.

The operator then i The pumping action provided by Ieciprocation of the plunger in the cylinder 152 is as follows: The manually operable valve 242 is first rotated to its innermost position whereby the head 24d thereof blocks the passage 2413. Assuming that the piston is in its lowermost position, as shown in FGURE 3, the operator grasps the handle 13S and swings the same upwardly to the position shown in broken lines in FIGURE l, moving the plunger upwardly to its uppermost position.

During this upward movement of the pump plunger il, the check valve or check ball 228 of the piston valve construction is closed and, as the piston moves upwardly, fuel liows from the reservoir chamber 126 through the inlet passage 208 in the base valve of the cylinder 152 past the check ball 212 to lill the space between the valve cage 204 and the lower end of the piston or plunger 181i. The fuel is temporarily retained in this region by the check ball 212 in the base valve of the cylinder.

Upon subsequent downward movement of the piston or plunger 131B by the handle 188, the check ball 228 carried by the piston is opened by fluid beneath thc piston, the fluid being forced to tiow past the check valve 228 through the communicating bores 226 and 216 through the transverse passages 219 in the piston 181B into the peripheral recess 213 formed in the piston which, at the beginning of the downward stroke of the piston, is adjacent the upper end of the elongated slot 23S formed in the wall of the cylinder 152.

The fluid ows from the circumferential recess 21S through the elongated slot 238 into the annular chamber 159, thence through the passage 174, iittings 176 and 178, liexible tube 74 and coupling members '70 and 72 through the passages 66 and 76 into the lower ends of the cylinders 3l). As the check ball or check valve 212 in the cylinder base valve cage 21M is closed during a downward stroke of the piston, the iluid is forced under pressure into the cylinders Sil to elevate the head Si). As the grippers or slips 196 are in engagement with the well pipe 82, upward movement of the head gli carries the well pipe 82 upwardly.

Upon subsequent upward swinging movement of the handle member 88 the piston 18d is again moved upwardly, the check ball 228 in the piston valve cage 222 is closed and more fluid flows rom the reservoir Ychamber 126 through the passage 203 past the check ball 212 in the cylinder base valve cage 204 into the region beneath the valve cage 204 and the lower end of the piston 181).

Upon a succeeding downward stroke of the handle member 188, the tiuid trapped beneath the valve cage 204 at the lower end of the cylinder 152 andthe piston is forced through the above-mentioned series of passageways into the cylinders Sil to el'lect a succeeding upward stroke of the pistons 36 and the head Si), carrying with it the well pipe $2.

Due to the comparatively small cross-sectional area of the piston or plunger 180 of the pump as compared with the combined cross-sectional area of the cylinders 39, the force exerted on the handle 18S in manipulating the pump plunger 1%@ is amplified or multiplied many times so that a comparatively high hydraulic force is etlective in the cylinders 2l) to elevate the head and extract or pull the well pipe.

The operator continues swinging movements of the handle 18S until the head 8d is moved upwardly to a position in which the collars 58 surrounding the piston sleeves 36 abut against the annular members 34 welded to the upper ends of the cylinders 3i).

Vfhen this abutting action occurs, subsequent movement of the pump plunger 1gb quickly develops very high pressure sufficient to automatically open the relief valve 258 carried by the manually operable valve member 242 so that iiuid liows through the passages 246, 264 and vent passage 251i and is returned into the reservoir 126.

During upward movement of the pistons 35 in extracting the well pipe, the coil springs 52 are distended, providing a potential force for returning the pistons 36 and the head to their lowermost positions. When the operation of the pump has moved the pistons 36 to their uppermost positions, the operator then opens the valve 242 by grasping the handle 243 and rotating the valve so that the head 44 thereof moves away from its shoulder, opening the passage or port 248 to establish communication between the port 248 and the fluid return passage opening into the reservoir 126.

The pistons 36 are then retracted automatically by the potential energy built up in the distended springs 52 so that the iiuid in the cylinders is returned through. the tube 74, fittings 178 and 176, passage 174, through the annular chamber 150 and passages 248 and 25th, so that substantially all the fluid in the cylinders 36 is returned into the reservoir 126. As the pistons 36 and the head 80 move downwardly, the pipe grippers or slips 196 are relieved from gripping engagement with the well pipe g2 as the grippers slide along the well pipe.

The operator then manually rotates the valve 242 to close the passage 248 and again effects repeated swinging movements of the handle 188 to reciprocate the piston or plunger 136 and thereby effect a succeeding pipe extracting stroke of the head 80 by repeated reciprocation of the pump plunger 18) in its cylinder 152. The abovedescribed operations are repeated until the well pipe 82 is fully extracted from the ground. During pipe extracting operations, it is only necessary for the operator to eifect successive swinging movements of the pump operating handle 138 and periodic manipulation of the valve member 242 to complete successive pipe or body pulling or extracting cycles until the pipe is fully extracted from the ground.

While the body or pipe extracting head 4component and fluid pressure producing component have been illustrated as connected by the exible tube 74, it is to be understood that the reservoir housing 124 may be secured to the base member 14 or, the housing 124 and the base member 14 may be mounted upon a single member, such as a plank, to provide a single portable unit construction.

The gripping devices or slips 166 may be adjusted in the manner hereinbefore described to accommodate various sizes of pipes simply by rotating the gripping devices 106 to mate the proper toothed surfaces thereof with a well pipe.

It is apparent that, within the scope of the invention, modiiications and different arrangements may be made other than as herein disclosed, and the present disclosure is illustrative merely, the invention comprehending all variations thereof.

We claim:

1. Apparatus for extracting a linear body from the ground including, in combination, a base, cylinder means mounted on the base, piston means reciprocable in said cylinder means, a body extracting head supported by the piston means, body gripping elements carried by the extracting head having laterally projecting trunnions, ysaid head being provided with convergingly arranged guide surfaces, said trunnions engaging the guide surfaces to bias the gripping elements into engagement with a body to be extracted upon upward movement of the extracting head relative to a linear body, passage means for conveying fluid into and away from the cylinder means, each of said body gripping elements being formed with a plurality of body engaging regions, each of said body engaging regions of each of the gripping elements being at a different distance from the trunnions of each of said elements to accommodate linear bodies of varying sizes, said body engaging regions of the gripping elements being lfashioned with a plurality of teeth of arcuate configuration for engagement with a body, said teeth being conligurated to engage and grip the body upon upward movement of the extracting head relative to a linear body.

2. Apparatus for extracting well pipe from the ground including, in combination, a base, cylinder means mounted i@ on the base, piston means reciprocable in said cylinder means, a pipe extracting head supported by the piston means, pipe gripping elements carried by the extracting head, each of said pipe gripping elements including laterally extending projections, said extracting head being provided with members disposed to present convergingly arranged guide surfaces engaged by the projections on the body gripping elements for biasing the gripping elements into engagement with a well pipe to be extracted upon upward movement of the extracting head relative to the pipe, passage means lfor conveying fluid into and away from the cylinder means, said pipe engaging regions of the gripping elements being fashioned with a plurality of teeth for engagement with a pipe, said teeth being coniigurated to engage and grip the body upon upward movement of the extracting head, said convergingly arranged guide surfaces permitting the gripping elements to move to pipe release positions upon retracting movement of the head.Y

3. Apparatus for extracting well pipe from the ground including, in combination, a base, cylinder means mounted on the base, piston means reciprocable in said cylinder means, resilient means connected with the piston means for biasing the piston means toward retracted position in the cylinder means, a well pipe extracting head supported by the piston means, pipe gripping elements carried by the extracting head, each of said body gripping elements including laterally extending projections, said extracting head being provided with angularly arranged pairs of surfaces forming guide means for the projections on the gripping elements to bias the gripping elements into engagement with a pipe to be extracted upon upward movement of the extracting head relative to the pipe, said base having passages for conveying iiuid into and away from the cylinder means, each of said gripping elements being formed with pipe engaging regions arranged at varying distances from said projections to accommodate pipe of different sizes, each of the pipe engaging regions of the gripping elements being fashioned with a plurality of teeth of arcuate conguration for engagement with a pipe, said teeth being coniigurated to engage and grip the body upon upward movement of the extracting head, the convergingly arranged surfaces permitting movement of the gripping elements to pipe release positions upon retracting movement of the head.

4. Apparatus for withdrawing a linear body from the ground including, in combination, a base, a pair of cylinders mounted on the base, a piston reciprocable in each of said cylinders, resilient means in each of said cylinders connected with the pistons for biasing the pistons toward retracted positions in the cylinders, a body extracting head supported by the pistons, body gripping elements carried by the extracting head, each of said body gripping elements including laterally extending projections, said extracting head being provided with angularly arranged surfaces forming guide means for the projections on the body gripping elements to bias the gripping elements into engagement with a body to be extracted upon upward movement of the extracting head relative to the body, passage means for conveying iiuid into and away from the cylinders, said gripping elements being formed with body engaging regions arranged at varying distances from said projections to accommodate bodies of different sizes, said body engaging regions of the gripping elements being fashioned with a plurality of teeth of arcuate configuration for engagement with a body.

5. Apparatus for extracting well pipe from the ground including, in combination, a base, a pair of cylinders mounted on the base, a piston reciprocable in each of said cylinders, resilient means in at least one of the cylinders anchored adjacent the base and connected with a piston for biasing the pistons toward retracted position, a pipe extracting head supported by the pistons, Well pipe gripping elements carried by the extracting head, each of said gripping elements having laterally extending projections, said extracting head being provided with converging` ly arranged pairs of surfaces forming guide means for the projections on the pipe gripping elements to bias the gripping elements into engagement with a pipe to be extracted upon upward movement of the extracting head relative to the pipe, said base having passages for conveying fluid into and away `from the cylinders, each of said gripping elements being formed With a plurality of pipe engaging regions arranged at varying distances from said projections to accommodate pipe of different sizes, each of said pipe engaging regions of the gripping elements being fashioned with a plurality of teeth of arcuate configuration for engagement with a pipe, the convergingly arranged surfaces permitting pipe release movement of the gripping elements upon retracting movement of the head.

15 WILLIAM l 'El References Cited by the Examiner FOREIGN PATENTS 8/ 1941 Australia.

FELDMAN, Primary Examiner.

MILTON S. MEHR, Examiner. 

1. APPARATUS FOR EXTRACTING A LINEAR BODY FROM THE GROUND INCLUDING, IN COMBINATION, A BASE, CYLINDER MEANS MOUNTED ON THE BASE, PISTON MEANS RECIPROCABLE IN SAID CYLINDER MEANS, A BODY EXTRACTING HEAD SUPPORTED BY THE PISTON MEANS, A BODY GRIPPING ELEMENTS CARRIED BY THE EXTRACTING HEAD HAVING LATERALLY PROJECTING TRUNNIONS, SAID HEAD BEING PROVIDED WITH CONVERGINGLY ARRANGED GUIDE SURFACES, SAID TRUNNIONS ENGAGING THE GUIDE SURFACES TO BIAS THE GRIPPING ELEMENTS INTO ENGAGEMENT WITH A BODY TO BE EXTRACTED UPON UPWARD MOVEMENT OF THE EXTRACTING HEAD RELATIVE TO A LINEAR BODY, PASSAGE MEANS FOR CONVEYING FLUID INTO AND AWAY FROM THE CYLINDER MEANS, EACH OF SAID BODY GRIPPING ELEMENTS BEING FORMED WITH A PLURALITY OF BODY ENGAGING REGIONS, EACH OF SAID BODY ENGAGING REGIONS OF EACH OF THE GRIPPING ELEMENTS BEING AT A DIFFERENT DISTANCE FROM THE TRUNNIONS OF EACH SAID ELEMENTS TO ACCOMMODATE LINEAR BODIES OF VARYING SIZES, SAID BODY ENGAGING REGIONS OF THE GRIPPING ELEMENTS BEING FASHIONED WITH A PLURALITY OF TEETH OF ARCUATE CONFIGURATION FOR ENGAGEMENT AND GRIP THE BODY UPON UPWARD MOVEMENT OF THE ENGAGE AND GRIP THE BODY UPON UPWARD MOVEMENT OF THE EXTRACTING HEAD RELATIVE TO A LINEAR BODY. 